12/06/2026
🚨🌺 **SEE A MONK SEAL ON THE BEACH? KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.** 🌺🚨
Hawaiʻi officials are reminding residents and visitors that **Hawaiian monk seals are among the most endangered marine mammals in the world** — and they are protected by law.
Approaching too closely, attempting to pet them, offering food, or disrupting their natural behavior can carry **serious legal consequences, including hefty fines**.
While these rare animals may appear friendly as they rest along the shoreline, experts stress that they need space to remain healthy and undisturbed.
🌊 **The rule is simple: admire, photograph from afar, and let monk seals enjoy the beach in peace. Protecting Hawaiʻi's wildlife starts with every one of us.**